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Home Blog Are OEM Brake Pads Better Than Aftermarket?

Are OEM Brake Pads Better Than Aftermarket?

Is it time to replace the brake pads on your car? The first thing to do is to get a set of replacement brake pads. While looking for replacement brake pads, you face two options:

  • OEM brake pads
  • Aftermarket brake pads

The type of brake pads you get matters a lot. Your car’s braking system is one of its most important safety mechanisms. That’s why it’s very important to use the right brake pads for your car.

We’ll help you decide on the best brake pads for your car. We’ll go over the 3 most important factors to consider while shopping for brake pads. Next, we’ll compare OEM and aftermarket brake pads.

1. Rotor/Brake Pad Compatibility

oem brake sets

Your brake pads work closely with your rotors. If you want reliable brakes, make sure that the rotors and the brake pads are compatible. That means:

  • The rotors can’t be too hard or too soft for the pad
  • The brake pads can’t be too hard or too soft for the rotor

For your car’s braking power to be optimized, the brake pads and rotors need to:

  • Generate enough heat without overheating
  • Have the right amount of friction to create enough “bite” to stop your car on a dime

Automakers work hard to develop brake pads that are compatible with OEM rotors. If you use OEM brake pads with your OEM rotors, you'll know that your car's braking performance is optimal.

Many aftermarket brake pads aren’t compatible with OEM rotors. Aftermarket manufacturers rarely make their friction materials to OE specs. In fact, it’s common for aftermarket brake pads to contain abrasive compounds that can wear out your rotors faster.

If you install aftermarket brake pads on your car, you would also need to invest in aftermarket rotors. If you use aftermarket brake pads with your OEM rotors, one of the following may happen:

  • If the aftermarket brake pad friction material is too soft for the OEM rotors, the pads will wear down in no time. This means more frequent brake pad replacements.
  • If the aftermarket brake pad friction material is too hard for the OEM rotors, your rotors will get all scratched up. That means you would need to replace your rotors sooner than necessary.

Both scenarios will compromise your vehicle’s braking power. The brake pads and rotors won’t work together to slow your car efficiently. If your OEM rotors are still in good shape, get OEM brake pads. This keeps your car’s braking performance as reliable and consistent as possible.

2. Cost

We have a secret aftermarket brake pads manufacturers don’t want you to know. OEM brake pads are usually cheaper than aftermarket ones. It’s because:

  • OEM brake pads last longer than aftermarket brake pads
    • If you go the OEM route, brake pad replacements aren’t as frequent
  • If you’re using OEM rotors, OEM brake pads won’t quickly wear down the rotors
    • That means you won’t have to replace your rotors sooner than expected

Aftermarket brake pads usually cost less than OEM pads. Yet, you'll likely save money with OEM pads in the long run. In fact, you may be surprised by how much cheaper OEM pads are when you take everything into consideration.

3. Warranty

You have a very low chance of finding aftermarket brake pads that come with a comprehensive warranty policy. That means if your aftermarket pads fail early, you’ll have no choice but to buy new ones.

Many automakers offer limited coverage for their brake pads. In the off chance that your OEM brake pads fail due to a manufacturing error, the automaker will likely replace them for free.

The Verdict Is Clear: OEM Is Better

OEM brake brands

Aftermarket brake pads are a hit or miss (mostly miss) when it comes to quality, fitment, and rotor compatibility. They also:

  • Don’t last as long as OEM pads
  • Cost more in the long run
  • Rarely come with a warranty

If you want a quality set of brake pads that will provide reliable and consistent performance, get OEM ones. With OEM brake pads on your car:

  • There’s a much less risk of brake failure
  • You won’t have to worry about the brake pads damaging the rotors
  • You won’t have to worry about your brake pads wearing out too early
  • You’ll save money in the long run
  • You’ll have the peace of mind that your brake pads are warrantied

How To Save Money On OEM Brake Pads

Many car owners are hesitant to buy OEM brake pads. It’s because OEM brake pads can be quite expensive at dealers.

If you’re facing this dilemma, we have good news. You can buy genuine OEM parts at discounted prices online! In fact, we’re an authorized seller of genuine OEM car parts by many different automakers. We offer wholesale pricing, which means you’ll save a lot of money by shopping with us.

For example, take a look at this set of brake pads for select older BMW models. It’s usually over $122 at a BMW dealership. With us, you can get it for under $80. In other words, you’d save over $40.

We may have a set of genuine OEM brake pads designed for your vehicle. Look up your vehicle here and see how much money you can save on OEM brake pads!